Their improbable run to January, their hurdles cleared en route, had instilled a belief by some this could prove a team of destiny, destined to keep winning, to reach the Super Bowl, to win the whole thing.

While the Broncos were proving otherwise, the Chargers solidified another notion about the team they were.

Offense
33% (2372)

Defense
16% (1104)

Coaching
51% (3614)

7090 total votes.

San Diego spotted the home team a 17-0 lead entering the fourth quarter. Then, a group that had kept fighting the past month went out on appropriate terms, a third-down play away from making things interesting in a 24-17 divisional-round loss at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“We had ‘em. We had ‘em,” safety Eric Weddle said. “On the ropes.”

San Diego outscored the Broncos 17-7 in a 10-minute span during the fourth quarter.

Its defense then, after a false start, tackle for loss and incompletion, got to third-and-17.

A stop would put the offense back on the field, down one score with two timeouts and less than three minutes left in regulation. But the Chargers allowed quarterback Peyton Manning to complete the Broncos’ longest offensive play of the game, a 21-yarder to a wide-open Julius Thomas.

San Diego Chargers vs. The Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Marcus Gilchrist leaves the field in the second half shaken up on a collision.
— Sean M. Haffey / Photo Sean M. Haffey UT San Diego.

Even as Eric Weddle and the rest of Chargers were disappointed in losing to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, their finish gives them hope for a new beginning.
— Sean M. Haffey / Photo Sean M. Haffey UT San Diego.

The tight end later made a 9-yard catch on third-and-6, sealing the game for good.

Chargers players and coaches spoke quietly after the loss in the visitor’s locker room, sharing gratitude and respect for one another. They hugged and shook hands. They headed for the team buses, a third-and-17 play standing out most about what might have been.

Improved communication on defense was a key part to a five-game winning streak.

The old problem reared its head.

“We just can’t have that,” linebacker Bront Bird said. “We were in three-deep (coverage). You’ve got two hook players, two flat players. We ended up having too hook players and not enough flat players.”

Their entire starting linebacker corps Sunday — Melvin Ingram, Jarret Johnson, Donald Butler and Manti Te’o— all missed multiple games in the regular season to injury.

The starting offensive line was on its seventh different combination.

The wide receivers have been without wide receiver Danario Alexander all season and Malcom Floyd for nearly all of it. Eddie Royal has missed months of practice with turf toe. Rookie Keenan Allen had to come along in a hurry.

Running back Ryan Mathews, who kept running physically and did not miss a game, has been banged up, the most severe ailment an ankle injury that limited him Sunday.

When not tested physically, it was a group few gave a chance for the playoffs. At 5-7, it was counted out a month ago.

On Sunday, the Chargers, fittingly, fought.

The line protected to allow quarterback Philip Rivers to find Allen on two 16-yard touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. After the second, Nick Novak tried an onside kick, and the Chargers recovered. They made it to the 12-yard line, and Novak brought the deficit to seven with 3:56 left in the game.